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The BSE benchmark Sensex today slumped by 160 points to close at 19,575.64 points on profit selling in rate-sensitive stocks led by ICICI Bank and Tata Motors,as RBI adopted a “hawkish” stance in its monetary policy 2013-14 overshadowing its 0.25 per cent cut in repo rate.

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Stocks remained under pressure throughout the day as the 0.25 percentage point rate cut was already factored in and hence profit-booking emerged at higher levels after three days of rally,brokers said.

The banking sector index suffered the most by losing 2.40 per cent as ICICI Bank,SBI,HDFC Bank and suffered losses in the range of 1-4 per cent. ICICI Bank and SBI at 3.57 per cent and 3.60 per cent respectively were among the biggest losers.

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The RBI in its annual monetary policy said upside risks to inflation in the near term are still significant and monetary policy cannot afford to lower its guard against the

possibility of resurgence of inflation pressures,dashing investor hopes of further softening of rates.

“It seems unlikely that any material monetary transmission would take place on account of the repo cut,” Brokerage India Infoline said.

The BSE 30-share barometer resumed lower and moved in negative terrain most of the day in a volatile trade.

Gains in Infosys,Sterlite,Hindalco,Jindal Steel,RIL ,Sun Pharma and L&T,saved the market from bigger fall.

The Sensex settled at 19,575.64,a fall of 160.13 or 0.81 per cent. In last three days,it gained 449.05 points or 2.32 per cent.

The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty fell by 55.35 points,or 0.92 per cent to 5,944 points after touching a low of 5,930.15 points.

The auto sector was the second worst performer by losing 1.50 per cent as stocks of Tata Motors,Maruti Suzuki and Hero MotoCorp fell in the range of 2 per cent to 3.76 per cent. Tata Motors with losses of 3.76 per cent was the biggest loser among 30 Sensex stocks.

The realty sector index fell by 1.39 per cent,and consumer durable index by 1.06 per cent. In 30-BSE index components,18 stocks declined led by GAIL India,Cipla,ITC,ONGC and TCS.

“The market was also hoping for a CRR cut which didn’t come through. Weak deposit mobilisation and lower government spending continue to pressurise system liquidity in a modest credit growth environment,” India Infoline said in a note.

Among other losers,Gail India fell by 2.99 per cent,Bajaj Auto by 2.56 per cent,Cipla by 1.86 per cent,ONGC by 1.55 per cent and HDFC by 1.06 per cent.

However,Jindal Steel rose by 4.22 per cent,Hindalco Ind by 2.30 per cent,Tata Steel by 2.22 per cent,Sun Pharma by 1.84 per cent and Infosys by 0.91 per cent.

Most Asian stocks ended higher for the first time in three days today as Macquarie Group reported higher earnings and investors awaited the release of US job data.

Key benchmark indices in China,Hong Kong,Taiwan and South Korea rose by 0.08 to 1.44 per cent while indices in Japan and Singapore fell by 0.76 to 0.95 per cent.

European stocks were slightly higher in thier early trade ahead of US non-farm payroll data due later,amid hopes the data will show jobs growth. Key indices in UK and Germany inched up by 0.05 per cent to 0.08 per cent while France CAC was quoted down by 0.16 per cent.